Individual Audio on base audio car

E92_James · 08-21-2019, 12:04 PM

I was one of the unlucky people that got stuck with the great rare base audio package here in the US. I thought alpine hifi retrofit would've been all I needed to make it sound decent. Oh how I was wrong, firstly the alpine amp overheats and shuts off a lot now, some days the audio will sound disgusting and flat, then other days the audio will sound decent and make my rear view mirror shake like crazy. Fail of an upgrade.

I was looking around and one day coded my head unit to individual audio for fun, and the idea of individual audio came up. Sure I can put some aftermarket speakers and amp, but I like that feeling of OEM. Plus I want my audio running through the MOST system.

How could I go about retrofitting this? And how many speakers does individual in the e92 have? Is it 14 (including the tweeters on the rear deck speakers)? If I buy a full audio harness off a totalled e92 m3 that has individual and just plug everything in will it work? I have a spare MOST connection in the trunk since I replaced both TCU and MULF with a combox a while back, so if I just plug that in, and route the harness from the amp to each speaker, it should theoretically work right?

Anyone done this retrofit on their e92s before that can shine some light into this? This alpine hifi is frustrating me

Ali-E90 · 08-21-2019, 03:07 PM

I can understand the frustration with the Alpine upgrade, but retrofitting IA may be pretty costly compared to fitting aftermarket pieces instead.

I've seen a used Logic7 amp sell for $400 recently, I imagine the IA would be more (and harder to find used). Then to go through the hassle of changing all the speakers, plus adding new ones in speaker locations that your car doesn't even have yet, I can't see this as being your "best" option unless you're just truly dead-set on having OEM IA at any cost.

I came from base myself, for best "bang" for your buck

, aftermarket is the way to go.

ctuna · 08-21-2019, 09:18 PM

ptpending · 08-22-2019, 06:26 AM

good aftermarket system will cost more than harman kardon or ia from junkyard, that was proved many times
the complexity of the install hk or ia to e92 is quite high because you have to cut rear trims and replace rear shelf
i've did that because i've installed IA which i sold, to buyer's e92
so if your e92 is not your daily driver and you have garage the optimal is to install HK, and if you do not have much experience it will take from two days to two weekends

mweisdorfer · 08-29-2019, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92_James

I was one of the unlucky people that got stuck with the great rare base audio package here in the US. I thought alpine hifi retrofit would've been all I needed to make it sound decent. Oh how I was wrong, firstly the alpine amp overheats and shuts off a lot now, some days the audio will sound disgusting and flat, then other days the audio will sound decent and make my rear view mirror shake like crazy. Fail of an upgrade.

I was looking around and one day coded my head unit to individual audio for fun, and the idea of individual audio came up. Sure I can put some aftermarket speakers and amp, but I like that feeling of OEM. Plus I want my audio running through the MOST system.

How could I go about retrofitting this? And how many speakers does individual in the e92 have? Is it 14 (including the tweeters on the rear deck speakers)? If I buy a full audio harness off a totalled e92 m3 that has individual and just plug everything in will it work? I have a spare MOST connection in the trunk since I replaced both TCU and MULF with a combox a while back, so if I just plug that in, and route the harness from the amp to each speaker, it should theoretically work right?

Anyone done this retrofit on their e92s before that can shine some light into this? This alpine hifi is frustrating me

An IA amp will run you around $400 to $600 used. An IA speaker set up will run you around $650-800. Plus you will have to run speaker wire to Multiple locations in your car from the harness in the rear. Not sure if that will fix the total issue. You might need a technique harness of some sort for around $100.00 or so.

If it were me, I'd get the dynavin 7 pro, a set of IA speakers, and two amps and a processor, or one amp that had a built in logic 7 processor. JL Audio makes such an amp; it's an 8 channel amp. It's Not cheap though. I probably wouldn't run the IA mid base subs. I'd look into some with a much better range. At some point, you will want to add a trunk mounted sub of 10 to 12". So, you'll need to leave room for expandability. Keep that one word in mind when you look at amps? Can I expand?

08-21-2019, 12:04 PM	#1
E92_James Private First Class 38 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2019 440i \| 2020 X3 X30i Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 F36 440i [0.00]	Individual Audio on base audio car I was one of the unlucky people that got stuck with the great rare base audio package here in the US. I thought alpine hifi retrofit would've been all I needed to make it sound decent. Oh how I was wrong, firstly the alpine amp overheats and shuts off a lot now, some days the audio will sound disgusting and flat, then other days the audio will sound decent and make my rear view mirror shake like crazy. Fail of an upgrade. I was looking around and one day coded my head unit to individual audio for fun, and the idea of individual audio came up. Sure I can put some aftermarket speakers and amp, but I like that feeling of OEM. Plus I want my audio running through the MOST system. How could I go about retrofitting this? And how many speakers does individual in the e92 have? Is it 14 (including the tweeters on the rear deck speakers)? If I buy a full audio harness off a totalled e92 m3 that has individual and just plug everything in will it work? I have a spare MOST connection in the trunk since I replaced both TCU and MULF with a combox a while back, so if I just plug that in, and route the harness from the amp to each speaker, it should theoretically work right? Anyone done this retrofit on their e92s before that can shine some light into this? This alpine hifi is frustrating me __________________ 2019 F36 440xi B58 \| 2011 E90 328xi N51 \| 2010 E92 335xi N54 (sold) \| 2015 F32 435xi N55 (sold) \| 2020 G01 X3 30i B46 \| 1996 E36 328iS M52 (RIP)
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08-21-2019, 03:07 PM	#2
Ali-E90 Colonel 379 Rep 2,365 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 323i (Cdn) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [8.00] 2007 BMW 323i [8.50]	I can understand the frustration with the Alpine upgrade, but retrofitting IA may be pretty costly compared to fitting aftermarket pieces instead. I've seen a used Logic7 amp sell for $400 recently, I imagine the IA would be more (and harder to find used). Then to go through the hassle of changing all the speakers, plus adding new ones in speaker locations that your car doesn't even have yet, I can't see this as being your "best" option unless you're just truly dead-set on having OEM IA at any cost. I came from base myself, for best "bang" for your buck , aftermarket is the way to go. __________________ Check out my Mod Thread Here
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08-21-2019, 09:18 PM	#3
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,102 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	There is a lot of aftermarket stuff that is way better than Logic 7 or Individual audio. the alpine upgrade was suppose to sort of bring the base system up to Hi Fi level which is crap to. Jehnert Doorboards and Helix DSP/amp is would be awesome. Base System Upgrades http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445266 http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634957 http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003810 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=822366 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581379 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=451941 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540954 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=Dotech http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495855 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494299 http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...morel-jbl.html http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=amp+upgrade http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=550771 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234 http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378833 base system wiring pre/post 3/09 http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1411521234 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...tDpLJPcGkw_ui_ http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...1#post16679904
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08-22-2019, 06:26 AM	#4
ptpending Colonel 456 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: e91 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Poland iTrader: (1)	good aftermarket system will cost more than harman kardon or ia from junkyard, that was proved many times the complexity of the install hk or ia to e92 is quite high because you have to cut rear trims and replace rear shelf i've did that because i've installed IA which i sold, to buyer's e92 so if your e92 is not your daily driver and you have garage the optimal is to install HK, and if you do not have much experience it will take from two days to two weekends __________________ E81 2007 130i 6cylinder Montego blue Retrofits: Harman Kardon, High-beam assistant, Removable tow hitch. Auto-dim folding exterior mirrors. Lumbar support. Perfomance Brakes.
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